The Tooth Fairy Myth

Posted August 10, 2016.

Like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy is a symbol of childhood. The Tooth Fairy exists in many cultures and across many religions. But where did the Tooth Fairy come from? Dr. Duane C. Clouse and our team at Treasured Smiles Children’s Dentistry, Duane C. Clouse, PC are happy to shed some light on the subject.

Myths and traditions that evolved into the Tooth Fairy date back for millennia. In early Norse and European tradition, when a child lost a baby tooth, the tooth was buried to save the child from hardships in the next life. In Europe, there was also a superstition that a curse could be placed on a child if a witch got their tooth. Burying the tooth would hopefully prevent a curse from being placed on their child. Vikings believed that baby teeth and other items from their children would bring them luck in battle.

For thousands of years, there have been many traditions relating to the loss of baby teeth. When a child lost a baby tooth, they would do one or more of the following:

– Throw it onto or over the roof of a dwelling
– Place it in a mouse hole
– Bury it in the ground
– Hide it out of sight of animals
– Put it inside a tree or on the wall
– Swallow it, or have their mother or pet swallow it

More recently, the lost baby tooth would be “buried” under a pillow and replaced with gifts like money. In many countries (including Russia, Spain, and China), the “tooth deity” who takes the teeth and gives gifts is a mouse. This is because rodents continue to grow their teeth for their whole lives. In other countries, the tooth deity varies to include beavers, cats, dogs, and squirrels. The Tooth Fairy as we know her was inspired by the legend of the mouse and European legends of a good fairy. The Tooth Fairy’s popularity grew because of fairy characters in Disney movies.

The Tooth Fairy can be a way to encourage dental health in your child. Consider telling your child that the Tooth Fairy gives a larger reward for clean, healthy teeth. The legend of the Tooth Fairy and this kind of encouragement makes dental work easier for children. We invite you to contact our dental office today to schedule your child’s next visit with our pediatric dentist in Maricopa, Arizona.